Updated January 16, 2018 at 6:02 PM;Posted January 16, 2018 at 5:06 PM

The New Orleans City Council, from left to right, District "E"
James Austin Gray II, District "D" Jared C. Brossett, Councilmember-at-Large Jason Rogers Williams,
Councilmember-at-Large Stacy Head, District "C" Nadine M. Ramsey, District "B" LaToya Cantrell, and District "A" Susan G. Guidry at City Hall in downtown New Orleans on Thursday, January 12, 2017. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)(CHRIS GRANGER)

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is working with New Orleans City Council members to respond to concerns that a resolution passed last week is offensive because of its connection to anti-Israel sentiment.

Reaction to the resolution, crafted through Mayor-elect LaToya Cantrell's office, was swift and largely negative among pro-Israel groups who called the resolution a thinly veiled attack on Israel. The resolution does not mention Israel by name, but says the city has a responsibility "to avoid contracting with or investing in corporations whose practices consistently violate human rights."

In 2016, the New Orleans Palestinian Solidarity Committee launched what's known as a Boycott, Divest, Sanction campaign, which is part of an international effort to put economic pressure on Israel. In the group's initial press release about the BDS campaign, the group said that Israel is responsible for a "humanitarian crisis" in Palestine and urged people to boycott Sabra Dipping Co. and Tribe Mediterranean Foods products; at the time, the group also had a petition urging the council to make it illegal to carry products "that directly support the Israeli occupation."

The resolution the council passed on Thursday (Jan. 11) was introduced under suspended rules, which Jewish Federation CEO Arnie Fielkow, a former council member, said was "not procedurally correct."

"There are times where things were taken up under suspension, but generally, that is not a good Democratic process because people don't have notice and you don't then, as a council member, get a balanced approach," Fielkow said. "It's really an unfair process and it involved a topic that has regrettably brought New Orleans some very negative publicity."

Arnie Fielkow, shown in this 2015 file photo, is CEO of the Jewish Federation. He's leading an effort to get the New Orleans City Council to address a resolution they passed that's been seen as an anti-Israel measure. (Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)BRETT DUKE

Fielkow added that he's "working with various council offices to see if the problem can be remedied." Fielkow pointed out that many other states have gone in the opposite direction of the New Orleans City Council, passing legislation that bans the state from doing business with companies that get involved in the BDS movement.

After the city council's votes, the resolution was touted as the first pro-BDS action in a Southern city. Meanwhile, southern states that have passed anti-BDS legislation include Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Texas and North Carolina, according to the Jewish Virtual Library.

The political fallout from the move became apparent late Friday as Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a statement condemning the resolution and indicating that he would find a way to invalidate it through the city's legal department. Landrieu's comments were remarkable considering he was put in the awkward position of slapping down an initiative pushed by his successor, Cantrell, whom Palestinian Solidarity Committee members said directed staff to craft the resolution.

Cantrell's office, reached before Landrieu issued his statement, argued that introducing resolutions under suspension was a routine function of the council, and that the resolution was a reflection of a Welcoming Cities resolution that is aimed at making the city more inclusive. But Landrieu directly refuted both arguments, saying the resolution was introduced "without adequate review and debate."

"This resolution was ill-advised, gratuitous and does not reflect the policy of the city of New Orleans," Landrieu said. "New Orleans is a proud, diverse international city that shares our culture, business and history with many global partners."

He added that his administration "understands that words matter and that there are consequences to the actions of government," saying the resolution "does not reflect the city's history of inclusion and diversity."

State Sen. Conrad Appel, who exploded in anger on Twitter after the resolution passed, said in an interview on Tuesday that he's drafting legislation that would prevent the state and political subdivisions in the state from passing similar laws and resolutions in the future. He called the resolution "a terrible mistake," adding, "I'm not sure they knew what all of them were doing because the language was kind of ambiguous, but it followed what BDS is all about."

"I hope it was an oversight," Appel said. "I think in the case of most council members, it was. And they have an opportunity to rescind that."

Cantrell's spokesman, David Winkler-Schmit, said that Cantrell "has been engaged with members of the Jewish community and has had discussions regarding the resolution. "

Williams' office did not respond to a request for comment about whether any action is being planned on the resolution in the future. Williams, Cantrell, Jared Brossett and James Gray all issued statements defending the resolution, saying that it was not aimed directly at Israel.

But given members of the Palestinian Solidarity Committee appeared before the council to support the measure, and a member of the committee told council members it could be used to punish companies that provide military equipment to Israel, Fielkow said the intent of the legislation is clear.

"The fact is, once it passed, it was used to the Palestinian Solidarity Committee's benefit and they have continued to promote it," Fielkow said. "It is not helpful to a two-state solution. It's an initiative I believe is very flawed but it's very unfortunate that the City Council ended up playing into it."